Chip resistor operates reliably in high-sulfur environments

Raleigh, N.C.  Stackpole Electronics, Inc. said it has introduced a chip resistor series that is more reliable in high-sulfur environments including automotive and industrial applications than traditional resistors.

Available in case sizes from 0201 to 2512, the RMCS series resistors offer a resistance value range from 10 ohms to 22 Mohms, in tolerances as low as 1% and temperature coefficients as low as 100 ppm. This series is RoHS compliant.

The RMCS series has a proprietary inner termination material that is said to significantly reduce the amount of silver present. This is an advantage in high-sulfur environments where a relatively high amount of silver can react to form silver sulfide, which is non-conductive, making the resistor an open circuit failure. This failure can happen in a very short period of time and greatly reduces the usable lifetime and reliability of any product subjected to this type of environment, said the company.

This product is suitable for a variety of automotive and industrial applications such as power plants or other industrial controls that may reside in environments where sulfur is always present such as fuels, oil and coal, as well as belts and hoses. In addition, there are also some parts of Asia where the normal daily atmosphere has a high amount of sulfur and many of the electronics used daily are susceptible to sulfur contamination, according to the company.

Pricing ranges from $1.00 to $3.00 per 1000 in volume for standard values and tolerances (0603 to 1206 case sizes). The RMCS series is available on tape and reel in the standard quantity increments, with samples available in three to four weeks.